Her father listened without ridicule, without a smile.

Indeed, once or twice he nodded his head to her words.
Was it comprehension, she wondered, or was it only patience?
"When I came down from that summit, I felt that what I had hated before was no longer endurable at all.

So I came to you." Her father got up from his chair and stood for a little while looking out of the window.

He was clearly troubled by her words.

He turned away with a shrug of his shoulders.
"But--but--what can I do for you here ?" he cried.